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KPLU All Blues host John Kessler has expanded "The Blues Time Machine," which has been a popular segment on his weekend blues shows. The weekly series tracks one great blues song through history - from its earliest recording to its latest and sometimes, with some surprising interpretations. "The Blues Time Machine" airs on KPLU on Fridays at 12:10 p.m. during the "Blue Plate Special," and on All Blues Saturdays and Sundays at 8 and 11 p.m.

Son House's masterpiece 'Death Letter' tracked through time

His life reads like a blues song … 1920’s, a young preacher playing the blues, despite his church’s opposition. Kills a man in self-defense, 2 years in prison, and comes out to team up with the best-known blues man of the day, Charley Patton.

After limited commercial success of his own, he fades from view, working on farms and railroads. Thirtyfive years later, some dedicated blues fans track him down and he begins performing around the world, finally getting recognition as a blues master.

He played blues with the fire of a preacher.

Son House was more than an influence; he was an inspiration for early bluesmen Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, as well as those who heard him during his later incarnation. Unlike his partner Charley Patton, who was a flamboyant crowd-pleaser, House’s music was more brooding, dark and personal. Saying that it’s passionate and gut wrenching does not come close to the conveying the power Son House could summon with just his voice and guitar. Son House recorded “Death Letter” in 1965, and this is live performance of the song from about the same time:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwjGytOVVQA

Cassandra Wilson is generally thought of as a jazz singer, but her influences include blues, folk and country music. Her 1996 version of “Death Letter” has a modern rhythm section, and folk textures like banjo and jaw harp that give an understated reading of the tune.

The White Stripes are one of the most successful bands of the “garage rock revival” of the late 1990’s, churning out minimalist rock with influences from punk to metal. Clearly indebted to the blues, they dedicated their first album to Son House, and the next to Willie McTell. They recorded “Death Letter” in 2000, and here is a live clip of the song:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t1_ETuWIbE&feature=related

Sugaray Rayford was a gospel singer until about 2000, when he started playing blues. Now the lead singer in The Mannish Boys, he brings the same preacher’s intensity to his 2011 recording of “Death Letter”.

Here are the complete versions of “Death Letter”, tracked through time:

Son House “Death Letter” 1965

Cassandra Wilson “Death Letter” 1996

White Stripes “Death Letter” 2000

Sugaray “Death Letter” 2011

John has worked as a professional bassist for 20 years, including a 15 year stint as Musical Director of the Mountain Stage radio program. John has been at KNKX since 1999 where he hosts “All Blues”, is producer of the BirdNote radio program, and co-hosts “Record Bin Roulette”. John is also the recording engineer for KNKX “In-Studio Performances”. Not surprisingly, John's main musical interests are jazz and blues, and he is still performing around Seattle.